Seal-lock



UNITED STATES ATENT Crimen.

DANIEL F. MACOA-RTHY, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

SEAL-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,951, dated February25, 1890Y Application filed September 30, 1889. Serial No. 3251613. (Nomodel.) l

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, DANIEL F. MACCARTHY, of St. Paul, in the county ot'Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain Improve ments inSeal-Locks, of Which the `following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for sealing railwayfreight-cars; and it consists, generally, in the construction andcombination hereinafter described, and par ticularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved cansealing device With the outerWall of the case of the locking mechanism removed in order to show theinterior arrangement, the sealing-strip being shownin position so as tobe engaged by the locking mechanism. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showingthe position of the parts when the sealing-strip is secured in thelocking 1nechanism or the car sealed Fig. 3 is a detail of theratcliettvheel. Figs. et and 5 are other details.

In the drawings, 2 represents the case of the locking mechanismadaptedto be permanently secured by means of bolts 3 to the car-body,the interior of the case being, pref` erably, substantially circular inform. Pivoted in the case is the ratchet-Wheel 4, provided, preferably,With teeth 5 on about half, of its periphery. Pivoted in the case is thepawl U, provided with a spring 7, by means of which it is caused toengage with the teeth ofthe ratchetvvheel When turned past it. A narrowslot S is arranged in the peripheral wall of the case 2, adapted toreceive the end of a metallic sealing=strip. A notch 9 is arranged inthe ratclietvheel, adaptedy also to receive the end of the sealing-stripWhen turned so as to register with the slot 8. A slotted cavity 10 isarranged in the ratchet- 'Wheel opening into thc notch 9, the side Wallsof the cavity being parallel with the sides of the Wheel. Pivoted inthis cavity is the dog 11, preferably provided `with twooppositelyarranged slightly-hooked points, which in the rotation of thedog pass into the notch 9 and in position to engage a slot or hole 17 inthe end of the sealing-strip inserted through the slot 8. The diameterof the ratchet-wheel is preferably'slightly less than the interior ofthe case 2, but is provided With a shoulder or stop 12, which projectsfrom the periphery of the ratchetwheel nearly to the inner Wall of thecasei The object of this stop or shoulder is to engage and carry forwardand discharge from the case the pieces of sealingstrips which are leftin the case on the breaking of the seal, a suitable side opening or slot13 being arranged in the peripheral Wall of the case, through which thepieces of the stripsare discharged.

I prefer to use for a seal a strip of tin or other similar metal 14,having an enlarged portion 15 at one end adapted to receive the stamp orseal of the station, and provided also With a transverse slot 16 ofsufficient Width to receive the body of the strip when passed throughit. The other end of the strip is provided With a longitudinal slot 17,which is adapted to be engaged by the dog 11 when inserted in the case.The strip is preferably formed with shoulders 1S a short distance fromthe slot 17, which engage With the Walls ofithe slot S and prevent thestrip being inserted or drawn into case farther than the shoulders, thestrip being made from the shoulders to the enlarged part Wider than the'slot. The strip 1e is formed of suiiicient length to be passed throughthe staple of the door-fastening, and the strip then is passed throughthe slot 16 of the enlarged part 15 and inserted through the slot 8, soas to be engaged by the dog 11 When the ratchet is turned. The ratchetis turned upon its pivot by means of a suitable permanent handle or key19, arranged on the outside of the case.

In operation the ratchetI a is setin the position indicated in Fig. 1,With its notch 9 registering with the slot 8. The sealing-strip lat ispassed through the staple 2O above the hasp. Then being passed throughthe slot 16 itis inserted into the case through the slot 8. Upon turningthe ratchet forward in the direction indicated by the arrow the dog 11enters and engages with the slot 17, drawing the strip into the caseuntil the shoulders 18 strike upon the Walls of the slot 8 and preventits farther movement, as shown in Fig. 2, the pawl 6 engaging with thenotches of the ratchet and locking it in its advanced position, so as toprevent the Withdrawal ot IOO the strip from the case. The car is thussealed, and cannot be unsealed without severing the strip 14 between theslot 17 and the shoulders 18. IVhen this is done, the fragment of thestrip remaining in the case is carried forward by rotating the ratchetuntil vit reaches the slot 13, When the dog turns on its pivot, as shownin Fig. 4, to automatically discharge the strip from the slot, the dogbeing turned a half-revolution, so that it is released from the stripand the opposite point is in position to engage another strip. Shouldthe piece of the strip in the case become bent, so as not to fall out ofthe slot or opening 13, the shoulder l2 will in the next rotation of theratchet carry it forward and force it out.

The various positions of the mechanism are shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4,the position shown in Fig. 1 being that when the strip is iirstinserted, that in Fig. 2 when the device is locked, and that in Fig. 4as the piece of strip is carried forward to be delivered from the case.The position of the ratchet-wheel in the case may be determined by theposition of the lhandle on the outside ofthe case, or in any otherJpreferred manner, indicating when the notch 9 registers with the slot8, so as to receive a sealing-strip.

The locking mechanism may be inclosed in a case which is permanentlyfixed to the carbody, or the case maybe made in any other preferred formand detachably connected with the car-body, or simply supported upon thestrip or other connection to which' it is secured or locked, so as toconstitute it a tag in itself. The device may therefore be adapted forother uses than that of canseals, as for v the sealing of packages forlong` transit. It

is evident also that other forms of strips or sealing devices may beused in connection with the locking mechanism, such as Wire withsuitable seal attachments or metallic strips of other preferred form foruse when ever it is desired to securely fasten the said connections, sothat they cannot be detached without being severed or without breakingthe seal.

In order to preserve a record of the sealing and unsealing of a car,with the construction shown when each seal is broken the enlarged heador seal part of the strip may be severed, as by the dotted line 25, andthe seal or part 15 then slipped upon another strip used in sealing thecar, and thus a record kept of every seal which has been attached to thecar during its transit. These seals may be preserved with such recordsthereon or attached thereto as may be desired, where this course isnecessary in the transaction of the business regarding shipments in thecar.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a carseal,a locking mechanism adapted tosecure said seal in place by engaging with the strip carrying the same,comprising a suitable case secured to the car-body, a slot in the Wallof the same adapted to receive the sealed strip, a pivoted dog carriedby a ratchetwheel pivoted in said case adapted to engage said strip andto draw the same into the interior of the case, and a pawl engaging'with said ratchet between the periphery of said ratchet and the wall ofthe case, whereby said strip is tightly secured therein and cannot belwithdrawn therefrom, substantially as de` scribed.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination, with asealing-strip, of a slotted case adapted to receive the end of thestrip, a ratchet pivoted to the said case, a pawl en gaging saidratchet, a pivoted dog` carried by said ratchet and adapted to engagesaid strip and to draw it into said case, and means for discharging saidstrip from said case when the seal is broken, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with the case 2, having the openings 8 and 13, ofthe ratchet 4, pivoted therein,'means for turning said ratchet in saidcase, a pawl engaging the teeth of said ratchet, the doublepointedpivoted dog 11,car ried by said ratchet, and a flexible sealing-stripadapted to be inserted into said case and to be engaged by said dog,adapted to be operated substantially as and for thelpurpose set forth.

4. The combination, with asealing-strip, of the case 2, having theopening 8, the ratchet 4, pivoted therein and provided with the notch 9and the shoulder 12, the pawl 6, adapted to engage the teeth on theratchet, and the dog 11, pivoted to said ratchet and projecting intosaid notch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a car-seal, the combination, With the strip 14, having the seal15, the transverse slot 16, the longitudinal slot 17, and the shoul ders18, of the case 2, secured to the car-body and provided with the slot 8,the ratchet 4,

pivoted in said case, having the notch 9, the shoulder 12, the slottedcavity 10, the pawl 6, engaging the teeth of the ratchet, and thedouble-pointed dog 11, pivoted in said slotted cavity and projectinginto said notch, and adapted to engage the slot of said strip wheninserted in said case, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. The combination, with a suitable case adapted to receive a iiexibleseal attachment, of a ratchet-controlled. mechanism adapted to engagewith and draw the sameinto said case, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination, with asealing-strip, of a slotted case adapted to receive the end of thestrip, a ratchet pivoted in said case, a pawl engaging said ratchet, anda pivoted dog carried by said ratchet and adapted to engage said stripand to draw it into said case, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day ofSeptember, 1889.

DANIEL F. MACCARTHY.

In presence of A. M. GAsKILL, BEssIE BooTH.

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